Zipper repair tool



I Nov. 23, 1965 A. DRITZ 3, 6

ZIPPER REPAIR TOOL Filed May 6, 1964' Fl(5.l FIGA F|G.7

IO a? I 9 F162 FIG.3 F|G.5 F|G.6

United States Patent 3,218,696 ZIPPER REPAIR TOOL Arthur Dritz, 171 Beach 125th St., Rockaway Park, N.Y. Filed May 6, 1964, Ser. No. 365,437 1 Claim. (Cl. 29207.5)

The present invention relates to a tool for removing a slider element from a zipper.

It is well known that because of their structure zippers become readily damaged and often need to be replaced before the item on which the zipper is installed has served its useful life. In most cases it is the slider element of the zipper which is at fault and simply by replacing this slider the zipper can be completely repaired. However, heretofore there has been no practical tool for removing the damaged slider from a zipper without causing greater damage to the zipper and thereby rendering it useless.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a practical tool for removing a slider element from a zipper.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tool for removing a slider element from a zipper which is economical to manufacture and will not cause damage to the zipper.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of one form of the tool of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a cross section taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 shows a modified tool,

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 7 shows still another form of the tool,

FIGURE 8 shows a further modification of the tool,

FIGURE 9 shows one of the tools of FIGURES 1 through 7 in use.

In the drawings the same numerals have been utilized to designate like elements of the various forms of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 through 9 of the drawings, the tool of the present invention includes two jaw members 2 and 4 generally opposing one another and joined at two complementary ends. Jaw 2 is generally straight although some outward curvature occurs in most forms of the present invention. On the other hand, jaw 4 has a substantial outward curvature generally resembling a C and the free end 6 of jaw 4 points toward jaw 2. Formed on the free end 6 of jaw 4 is a wedge-shaped point 8. Near the free end of jaw 2 a transverse channel 10 is formed. In the embodiments shown in FIGURES 1, 4, 7 and 9, this channel takes the form of an outwardlycurved offset. It is to 'be noted that jaw 2 may be extended beyond the channeled-out portion 10, as shown in FIGURES l and 9, or it may terminate immediately above the channeled section, as shown in FIGURES 4, 7 and 9. Also, as shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 4 the channel 10 may be rounded transversely. In FIGURES 4, 7 and 9 outwardly-curved offsets 12 and 14 are formed in jaws 2 and 4, respectively. The tools of FIGURES 1 through 7 and 9 are made of a generally flat, as shown, or a rounded piece of metal which can be bent to bring jaws 2 and 4 toward one another. It is obvious that because of the nature of the tool of the present invention the tool should be made of a relatively cheap metal so that the tool may be disposed of after use. Accordingly, the jaws need not spring back into their original open 3,218,696 Patented Nov. 23, 1965 position after use and therefore the tool may or may not be made of spring steel. In order to permit the use of an even thinner strip of flat metal FIGURE 7 shows an inwardly-curved offset 16. This permits wedge-shaped point 8 and inwardly-curved offset 16 to pry the zipper slider open as readily as would a thicker end, such as is shown in FIGURES l, 4, 8 and 9.

FIGURE 3 of the drawings shows a concave section or channel 9 formed on the top surface of point 8 of FIG- URE 1. This channel permits the point 8 to slide more freely along the teeth of the zipper track when the upper surface of point 8 is adjacent the zipper track during use. It should also be noted that the slight downward curvature of point 8 also aids such sliding. It had been found that without either or both of the channel 9 and the downward curvature of point 8 the sharp portion of point 8 tended to become snagged on the teeth of the zipper track at their central portion where they interlock and in many cases damaged the track, If the lower surface of point 8 is to be placed adjacent the zipper track during use, FIG- URE 4 shows point 8 curved slightly upward and FIG- URE 6 shows channel 9 in the bottom surface of point 8. The sliding of point 8 along the zipper track may be further aided by applying a coating having a low frictional resistance to point 8. Such coating may take the form of a chrome plating, an oil impregnated coating, or the like.

FIGURE 8 shows a further modification of the tool in which jaws 2 and 4 are joined by a pivot pin 18 and extend to form handles 20 and 22 thereby providing a tool having the general form of a pair of conventional pliers.

The jaws of the tools of FIGURES 1 through 7 can be forced together by a pair of ordinary pliers, such as pliers 24 of FIGURE 9. Alternatively, jaw 2 may be placed upon a suitable base, such as a table, and jaw 4 may be struck by a hammer or the like. As shown in FIGURE 9, pliers 24 fit between outwardly-curved olfset 10 and offset 12 thereby maintaining the pliers as close as possible to the ends of the jaws; and, offset 12, together with offset 14, prevents the pliers from slipping from this position.

In use, offset 10 is placed against the neck 26 of a zipper slider. Wedge-shaped point 8 is placed between track 28 of the zipper and one of wings 30 of the zipper slider. It is obvious that when the jaws 2 and 4 of the tool are brought together wings 30 of the zipper slider will be pried apart and the zipper can be readily removed. By the same token, the wedge-shaped point 8 will not damage track 28 of the zipper.

Having described and exemplified the present invention it will be apparent that certain modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, Accordingly, the present invention is to be limited only by the appended claim.

I claim:

A device for removing a slider element from a zipper comprising a pair of opposing jaws joined at two complementary ends by a bendable metal, one of said jaws having an outwardly curved offset near its free end, the inner surface of said curved portion being rounded transversely to register with the recess in the neck joining the two wings of a zipper slider, the other of said jaws bent inwardly and pointing toward the curved offset of said first jaw and having a sharpened, chisel-shaped point on its tip adapted to fit between the tracks of a zipper and one of the wings of the zipper slider and wedge the two apart when a force is applied to bring the jaws of the device together, said chisel-shaped point being curved slightly upward and having a longitudinal channel formed in its lower surface, and being coated with a material having a low frictional resistance for aiding the sliding of the point along the zipper tracks.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Hart 81-43 Cochran.

Shelley 81.-5.1 5 Hammond.

Conne 815.1 Hughes.

Phoel 8143 4 Kivley et a1. Siebrandt.

Potter Hardy. Scott 81--9.5 X Hougen.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner. 

